Barkan, West Bank, Palestine

🇵🇸 Barkan (בַּרְקָן) is an Israeli settlement in the northern West Bank, about 8 km west of the Palestinian city of Salfit, under the administrative local government of the Shomron Regional Council.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law.

History Founded in June 1981 by secular Israelis from the Beitar and Herut movements, Barkan is part of a chain of settlements built along the Trans-Samaria Highway, and adjacent to the Barkan Industrial Park. The park, established in 1982, has 120 businesses and factories manufacturing plastics, metal-work, food, textile, and more. Of the 5,000 workers, 90% are Palestinian Arabs.

According to ARIJ, Israel confiscated land from two Palestinian villages in order to construct Barkan: 167 dunams from Qarawat Bani Hassan, and 353 dunams from Sarta.

"Barkan" is called after the Hebrew name of the Syrian thistle. The original name of the town was Beit Abba after Abba Ahimeir, a leader of the Lehi.

Archaeology An archeological site east of the town contains remnants of an Israelite settlement during the time of the first and second temples.

Barkan Industrial Park The Barkan Industrial Park (איזור התעשיה ברקן, Barkan Industrial Area) is located about 25 km east of Tel Aviv in the West Bank. Its offices are located at the northern entrance. The industrial park is located adjacent to the Israeli settlement Barkan and near the settlement and city of Ariel. A January 2016 report by Human Rights Watch called for companies to pull out from the West Bank since the study says that these companies, including Barkan Industrial Park, violate international law by harming the rights of the Palestinians. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law.